nautical hook for rope

Hey all, have got this interesting piece here, would like to know what it was used for and what the material might be. It is 15" long and weighs 2 3/4 pounds. Would greatly appreciate any info that anyone has including what it might be worth! Thanks!!

 

Hook end turnbuckle. Could be a nautical item as it is made from brass. Actual use is hard to exactly determine.

 

Perfect!

 

Looks a lot like the ship's lifeline turnbuckles we had in the USN ca. 1970's. They were bronze and this probably is too. Ours had two opposite-facing hooks where they attached to a steel loop on the stanchion, but the end that held the wire-rope lifeline was very similar. See lower left in image below. Turnbuckles for ship lifelines were almost always made to hold wire rope.

 

where they shot from deck guns ?..................................

 

Ah yes, I always get the 2 mixed up. Brass is copper and zinc, bronze is copper and usually tin.

"Bronze resists corrosion (especially seawater corrosion) and metal fatigue more than steel"

 

Thanks you guys! So interesting!! Much appreciated